At what age did you transition your child to a high back booster?

[tblmom]

We are debating whether or not to switch DS to a high back booster. He is currently in the Graco Nautilus, but the crotch strap is pretty much right at his crotch even when I scoot him as far back as he can go. He is also starting to complain about it hurting him. He will be 5 next month, but is smaller for his age, 38 pounds, 41-42".

His younger sister is actually about to outgrow her Britax Roundabout, so we were thinking about moving her into the Nautilus and getting him a new seat. The Graco Turbobooster with Safety Surround will be going on sale tomorrow in our area and we were thinking about moving him into that.

One of the big reasons is that he goes on field trips once a month on days where both DH and I work. All the kids carpool and the sitter would have to un-install and re-install his Nautilus twice that day. I would have my sitter be the carpool driver, but she also has my daughter and there is no room in her sedan. A lot of my sitters have had trouble installing the Nautilus because it's so bulky and heavy, so that makes me uneasy.

In terms of maturity, DS is actually really good in his car seat. Sits still even on long trips and when he's sleeping in the car.

 

[Baylor]

It depends if you think he will sit correctly. My son started at 4.5 and has been doing great. Never had an issue. I find if the seat is deep enough in the beginning it seems to encourage then to sit well.

Now he is 5.5 and rides in a booster all the time. He can even ride in a LBB correctly but that is rare and for emergencies.

 

[MoonRocket]

I'm curious about this as well. My DD is about the same sizewise as your Son (okay, maybe a little bigger- she towers over most of the kindergartners at her pre-school) but not quite 4.

We definitely will not transition yet- but I am thinking about putting a HBB on her birthday or Christmas list so we'll have one. (I am way too practical- but might as well harness the grandparents' generosity for good )

 

[lpperry]

I won't let my kids ride in a hbb until 6. I let my stepdaughter at 5 1/2, but that was another issue and I was just happy her mom had harnessed her until 5 1/2 instead of 3 or 4!

It is possible I would consider a booster for a 5 year old in a carpool situation rather than trust someone else to install a harnessed seat and buckle properly in a harnessed seat.

In your situation, it would depend if the sitter can install the seat correctly. I wouldn't worry about the extra hassle and would have her do it over boostering a 5 year old. If the sitter can't install the seat correctly, I would booster.

 

[Keeks64]

My DS is just turned 5, 36lbs & 42"

He can't go into any booster because he's not 40lbs (Canada) but once he is 40lbs I will begin to booster train him for my mom & Grandmas car. They will each have a high back turbo for their vehicles in emergency school pick up situations.

He is & will be harnessed in his FR CT until at least age 6, maybe 7 or 8. He literally has 4" of room or more to grow :O

I figure, the baby is 13m ... When he's 4 I will move him FF in the FR, so DS1 has 3 years left in the FR before he would *need* to move to a booster full time

 

[cookie123]

I think at 6 is my minimum. And they need some teaching and practice as to what's expected. Sitting in position, seat belt where it belongs.

My grandkids were in the Nautilus until 6.5 and 8, when they were both outgrown harnessed. They continued in them for quite awhile before moving to Montereys.

Matthew will be turning 6 in December and I doubt he'll be ready any time soon. He can't even stay seated at the table. I did try him one day and he did fair, but had me there correcting him!

 

[baby hungry]

5 1/2 for my oldest. I liked knowing when I buckled my child, they stayed exactly that way until we arrived at our destination.

 

[YinzerMama]

My oldest was 3 in my husband's car (which I don't reccomend but it wasn't uncommon then - outgrew 40 pound roundabout) and just-turned-5 in my car. He did OK behavior wise but I wished he could have been harnessed longer for sleeping. (At the time it seemed excessive to buy a second marathon... lol. )

My girls have ridden in boosters on occasion in my husband's car starting at almost 5 (the Gracos so rated down to 30 pounds). They are still harnessed in my car, I will probably get them boosters around 6 or so. They behave just fine when boostered but for sleep/comfort I prefer their frontiers

 

[VoodooChile]

Dd was 1 month past her 5th birthday, and 40 lbs. We'll try ds at 5 as well.

 

[Phineasmama]

Totally depends on the kid. DD1 *just* moved to a booster and she will be 7 this winter. My son is 4.5 and he can sit way better in a booster than she can, but since he is small for his age I feel better with having him harnessed.

 

[Patriot201]

I can't remember for sure, but I am thinking:

DN1-- around age 5.5?
DN2-- around age 6.5?
DN3-- around age 5.5?
DN4-- still harnessed, but has ridden in a HBB for brief trips.

 

[bubbaray]

5/40 lbs.

 

[amyd]

Around 4.5 and 40lbs he started using one occasionally (with friends, second vehicle, etc). At 5 and a few months, he moved into one full time in all vehicles.

 

[momto3princesses]

I just moved our oldest a month or so ago. She'll be 5 next month and is about 48# and 43". She sits in it perfectly and it's like a little bit if heaven to not have to reach back to the third row to belt her in!